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Welcome
North America to the ONLY completely automated locksmith dispatch
network. Simply dial
1-800-UNLOCKS®
from any phone, including
all cell-phones and payphones, and you will be instantly connected to the
closest licensed, quality assured locksmith in your area.
1-800-UNLOCKS® has partnered with Comtel Communications® to offer this system to
people in need of a locksmith in all areas of the continental USA and Canada.
1-800-UNLOCKS® has a thorough application
process for all service providers, therefore only the most qualified, reputable
craftsman of the trade can participate in this nationwide automated locksmith
dispatch network.
1-800-UNLOCKS®
was
founded in 1994 to provide a quick, instant method to
contact a security professional without the hassle of navigating, in some cases,
dozens of pages of locksmiths. In most cases the advertisements were not even
local, but out of state companies that were in the business to take advantage of
those in an emergency situation . The founding principals of
1-800-UNLOCKS®
involved in designing the business concept and
model have over 50
years combined between them. The main purpose in building this business model
was realizing that with the beginning of the
technological advancements, there had to be a way to make finding a locksmith
easier than searching for a locksmith in 20 pages of ads and gambling on whether
or not you would reach an ethical, established, local professional locksmith. The concept was
researched for over 18 months before our debut at the Associated Locksmiths of
America (ALOA) trade show in
Reno Nevada in 1997. Two years prior to unveiling our business plan to the
locksmith community the company applied for and was granted the
trademark which is held in the United States Patent and Trade Organization (USPTO).
We felt that by owning this
important aspect of a national brand, such as 1-800-UNLOCKS®
,it would help to assure the consumers that we were a company that holds the
highest standards that is passed on to the general public.
As you browse our site, please follow all links to see the vast
capabilities that this service offers to all locksmiths of all types, regardless
of geographical location, demographics, or annual revenues.
For those who found
1-800-UNLOCKS®
via Google. There is
something you should know, we are being extorted by Ed Magedson, the owner of
RipOff Report. It appears we are not alone. To read more of other
companies that are being extorted, click here.
*Instead
of relying on the false, made up reports from the website described above,
please visit the Better Business Bureau and search our company or any company
you suspect of unfair business practices. Simply click their logo below to
be taken to their site.*

How
1-800-UNLOCKS®
is Poised to help the Integrity of our Profession
*The
Federal Trade Commission has Issued a Warning Concerning the Unscrupulous Acts of
Locksmiths on a National Level*
FTC Consumer Alert
The Keys to Hiring a Reputable
Locksmith
If you’ve ever locked yourself out of
your car or home, you know what a hassle it can be. Your first
thought is to get someone to help you out of your situation. If
a family member or friend can’t deliver a spare set of keys,
your next call might be to a local locksmith. But before you
make that call, consider this: According to the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, some
locksmiths advertising in your local telephone book may not be
local at all. They may not have professional training. What’s
more, some of them may use intimidating tactics and overcharge
you.
When
“Local” Is Really Long-Distance

Consider this scenario: A company far
away from your town chooses a name for its business that is very
similar to the name used by a local locksmith. The company
advertises in the phone book or on the Web using a local
telephone number and local address. When you call the number,
you’re actually connected to a call center in another city.
What’s more, there’s no locksmith shop at the address listed.
You may be quoted a price on the phone,
but when the locksmith arrives, often in an unmarked vehicle, he
may want significantly more money. The locksmith also may accept
only cash.
Some who claim to be “local locksmith”
companies have multiple listings (sometimes 30 or more separate
listings in a single phone book) with different names. But the
calls to each of these numbers go back to the same central
number in a distant city where operators dispatch untrained
individuals to do the job.
Tips
for Picking a Locksmith 
What’s the best way to pick a reputable
locksmith? Consider researching locksmiths before you need one,
the same way you would a plumber, electrician, or other
professional. That works well if you’re looking to have some
security work done at your home, like installing deadbolts on
the exterior doors of your house, or a safe in your bedroom.
But if you’re dealing with an emergency, like being locked out
of your car, you really don’t have much time for thorough
research.
Regardless of whether you are locked out of your car or home,
you need new locks installed, or you require other security
work, the FTC offers these tips to help you hire a legitimate,
local locksmith.
In emergency situations:
- If you’re locked out of your car
and have a roadside assistance service, call them first.
These services sometimes are included with the purchase of a
car, or as an add-on through your insurance company. You
also can buy this service separately. Roadside assistance
plans often have a list of pre-approved companies to perform
services like unlocking cars, jump-starting batteries,
changing flat tires, delivering gasoline, and towing.
- Call family or friends for
recommendations.
- If you find a locksmith in the
phone book, on the Internet, or through directory
assistance, and a business address is given, confirm that
the address belongs to that locksmith. Some disreputable
companies list street addresses to give the impression that
they’re local. But the addresses may belong to other
businesses or vacant lots, if they exist at all. You can
verify addresses through websites that allow you to match
phone numbers with street addresses. Some legitimate
locksmith companies may not include a street address in
their listing either because they operate a “mobile”
business or they operate their business out of their home
and may be reluctant to list that address. If you call a
locksmith who doesn’t list an address, ask why. If the
answer is that it's a “mobile” business, you will understand
they have no storefront.
- Write down the names of several
businesses, their phone numbers, and addresses for future
reference, in case you don’t want to go with the first
locksmith you call.
- If a company answers the phone
with a generic phrase like “locksmith services,” rather than
a company-specific name, be wary. Ask for the legal name of
the business. If the person refuses, call another locksmith.
- Get an estimate for all work and
replacement parts from the locksmith before work begins. In
cases of “lock-outs” (being locked out of your car or home),
most legitimate locksmiths will give you an estimate on the
phone for the total cost of the work.
- Ask about additional fees
before you agree to have the locksmith perform the work.
Companies may charge extra for responding to a call in
the middle of the night. Ask if there is a charge for
mileage, or a minimum fee for a service call.
- If the price the locksmith
provides when he arrives doesn’t jibe with the estimate
you got on the telephone, do not allow the work to be
done.
- Never sign a blank form
authorizing work.
- Find out if the locksmith is
insured. If your property is damaged during a repair, or if
faulty work leads to loss or damage, it’s important for the
locksmith to have insurance to cover your losses.
- When the locksmith arrives, ask
for identification, including a business card and, where
applicable, a locksmith license. Nine states require
locksmiths to be licensed: Alabama, California, Illinois,
Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee
and Texas. In addition to a business card, check to see if
the invoice includes the company’s name, and whether the
locksmith’s vehicle has a name that matches the business
card, invoice, and/or bill.
- Expect the locksmith to ask you
for identification, as well. A legitimate locksmith should
confirm your identity and make sure you’re the property
owner before doing any work.
- Some locksmiths will work out of a
car for quick or emergency jobs, but most will arrive in a
service vehicle that is clearly marked with their company’s
name.
- In the case of a lock-out, be
cautious if you’re told up front that the lock has to be
drilled and replaced. An experienced legitimate locksmith
has invested in the tools and education to provide quality
service, and can unlock almost any door.
- After the work is completed, get
an itemized invoice that covers parts, labor, mileage, and
the price of the service call.
In situations where you have more time, check out locksmiths
with your state Attorney General (www.naag.org),
local consumer protection agency (www.consumeraction.gov),
and the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org)
to make sure there are no unresolved complaints on file.
(You can get the phone numbers for these organizations in
your phone book, through directory assistance, or through
Web directories.) This is true whether you need a locksmith
for a one-time job, or you want to hire someone to work for
you on a continuing basis. You must be able to trust your
locksmith. You don’t want to give access to the locks for
your home, car, or place of business to just anyone.
In
Case There’s a Next Time

Once you’ve found a reputable
locksmith, keep the company’s name and contact information in
your wallet and address book at home or at work. You also may
want to program this information into your home and cell phones.
This can save you time and trouble the next time you need these
services.
For More
Information
If you have a problem with a locksmith,
try to resolve the dispute with the company first. Make sure you
act quickly. Some companies may not accept responsibility if you
fail to complain within a certain time. If you can’t get
satisfaction, consider contacting your local consumer protection
agency for information and assistance.
You also can file a complaint with the
Federal Trade Commission. Although the FTC does not intervene in
individual disputes, the information you provide may indicate a
pattern of possible law violations requiring action by the
Commission. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent
fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot,
stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free
information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free,
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC
enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other
fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online
database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law
enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
The FTC works for the consumer to
prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in
the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers
spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a
complaint or
to get free
information on consumer issues, visit
ftc.gov or call toll-free,
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC
enters consumer complaints into the
Consumer Sentinel Network,
a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds
of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and
abroad.
Contact Information
If you are interested, or want to refer someone to our
company please do not hesitate to contact us by using any of the methods below.
If you would like to fill out our information request form,
please click here. Please remember that the
form is a non obligation request, but by submitting the form it will be time
stamped and you will have the first rights of refusal if you decide to subscribe
to our membership.
- Telephone
- 800-865-6257
- FAX
- 888-865-6257
- Postal address
- 2110 Spencer Rd, Richmond, VA 23230
- Electronic mail
- General Information:
info@1-800-unlocks.com
Sales:
Customer Support:
Webmaster:
webmaster@1-800-unlocks.com
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